Cousins wielded axe and baton in man's Newcastle home in attempt to collect debt

The cousins Ryan Atkinson, left, and Andrew Atkinson appeared at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court

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Two cousins stormed into a family's house brandishing an axe and a baton before demanding cash from the householder.

Ryan Atkinson, aged 27, took his cousin, Andrew Atkinson, to the Newcastle home of a man he believed owed him money.

His partner told Ryan he was not going into her home but he instructed Andrew to 'get in there'.

Andrew, aged 28, entered with an extendable baton and Ryan was carrying an axe. The householder called the police as he tried to stop Andrew opening the living room door. Ryan swung the axe in the kitchen close to the head of one of the couple's children and shouted, 'Where is the money'?

The defendants left when a concerned neighbour entered the house.

In a separate incident on the same day Ryan punched a man three times after stealing his glasses.

Now Ryan has been jailed for two years and 11 months and Andrew was handed a two-year sentence, suspended for two years, at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court .

Prosecutor Jonathan Dickinson said the man at the house in Newcastle had grown some cannabis with Ryan Atkinson but their relationship soured and Ryan believed he owed him money.

He took his cousin, Andrew, with him to the man's house in Newcastle at 7.15pm on October 13.

Mr Dickinson said: “Ryan said to Andrew, 'Just go in the house and have him'.

“The man was having a cigarette. He went in and closed the door. He heard his partner say, 'Ryan, just go away, you are not coming in my house'.

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“Ryan said, 'I want him. I nearly went to prison because of him. Ginge (Andrew) get in there'.

“The door opened, Andrew had an extendable baton. Ryan had an axe.

“The man ran in the living room where three children were. He contacted the police while holding the door shut. Andrew was trying to shove the door open.

“Ryan swung an axe in the kitchen close to a child. He said, 'Where is the money. I am not leaving until I get something'."

But both defendants left when a neighbour came in the house. The kitchen table had an axe mark on it.

Later that day Ryan was with another man in Silverdale when he asked a vulnerable 31-year-old if he had any money. The man replied, 'No', but the defendant snatched his glasses from his face and punched him three times. His accomplice, who was not identified, kicked the victim twice.

Ryan Atkinson, of Buxton Avenue, Silverdale, and Andrew Atkinson, aged 28, of Vernon Avenue, Audley, pleaded guilty to affray and possession of an offensive weapon. Ryan also admitted theft and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The offences placed him in breach of a suspended jail sentence he received for the production of cannabis.

Stuart Muldoon, representing Ryan, said his client's life had spiralled out of control due to his use of alcohol and drugs.

Barry White, mitigating for Andrew, said his client was vulnerable but has been providing negative drugs tests.

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Judge David Fletcher said he could suspend Andrew Atkinson's sentence because he was not the prime mover, he has fewer convictions than his cousin, and he has mental health problems. As part of the order he must adhere to a four-month curfew from 7pm to 7am.

Both defendants were made the subject of five-year restraining orders preventing them contacting their victims.